15 Race Medal Displays Ideas (From Hangers to Bibs to DIY)

If you’ve been looking for some fun ideas for medal display, then this guide is perfect for you! While some of you may operate like celebrities with a full room to display all your bling, that’s not the case for so many. Instead, we’ll give you some other ideas for your space.

And if you do, let’s be friends I can live in one of the other rooms you don’t remember you have.

One of the perks of running (besides the endorphins) is that whether you finish first or last, they’re going to put a medal around your neck that says, “YOU FREAKING DID THIS.”

You showed up in the rain after months of training to accomplish something hard while the rest of the world is still just rolling out of bed.

That, my friends, means our race medal display should also be worthy of our efforts.

And HeatherRunZ does an excellent job of this!

Quick Jump

5 Best Medal Displays in 2023

Each time we move, I grab a handful of clanging metal and place it in a box thinking, “I really should find some way to display my favorites”.

Then well…I don’t. It’s really that simple.

Maybe it’s because I’m wondering how to display medals in a way that provides me a mental boost.

Finally, in our new house, I have a space next to the treadmill for them…but I also think a wall of bibs in my office is probably in process.

But I’m looking for ways to change that, so here are some easy ideas to start displaying your medals:

1. Best Trophy and Medal Holder: iBobbish Premium Trophy and Medal Display Shelf ($27)

Displaying hard-earned medals and trophies in a neat and creative way really draws the eye. To keep those precious awards looking pristine, an organizer like this one from iBobbish is ideal.

I love how the shelves are perfectly sized for trophies, medals, or any other meaningful knickknacks you want to exhibit. The hooks are broad enough for thick straps and ribbons too.

But the best part might be the included plaque with an inspirational quote to keep you motivated wherever you decide to mount it.

When you’ve put in the blood, sweat, and tears to earn those medals and awards, you deserve to put them on display with pride. This organizer makes it simple to neatly show off your accomplishments.

The handy shelves keep big and small trophies upright, while the hooks neatly align medals so you can appreciate all medals easily. And that motivational quote plaque adds some extra inspiration to keep your eyes on the prize.

2. Best Slim Medal Display: Allied Medal Hangers – Always Earned Never Given ($49)

This medal holder from Amazon lets you organize your hard-earned medals without taking up too much space.

Unlike flimsy cardboard boxes, it has sturdy metal bars to neatly display medals with ribbons and it’s really useful for keeping track of accomplishments and memories.

Plus, with its slim design, you can hang it on the wall as a conversation piece without it looking cluttered.

I like how compact it is – medals can pile up over the years, so it’s nice to have an organizer that keeps everything tidy. The slim bars help medals lay flat as well. And it just looks classier than shoving medals into a shoebox.

For people with lots of medals and ribbons, this seems like an easy way to appreciate them rather than just stashing them out of sight.

So if you want an attractive way to organize and exhibit your accomplishments as decor, this quality hanger gets the job done.

It also comes in different sizes so you’ll probably find the one that fits your space easily.

3. Best Shadow Frame Box: 3 In 1 Shadow Box Frame ($66)

I recently came across these shadow box frames on Amazon for keeping special medals and pins safe.

They’re called shadow boxes since the black felt backing makes whatever you put inside seem to stand out in the spotlight.

While many are made for small medals, this is truly made for the runner to showcase their entire race experience.

I also like how it comes in three different sizes and three different colors as well (wood, black and white), so you should be able to find something that fits your space.

4. Best Race Bib and Medal Display: Gone For a Run BibFOLIO Plus Race Bib and Medal Display ($44)

Let’s face it – our race bibs matter even more than the medals. So this is one of my favorite options! I have this next to my treadmill and love it.

It’s a medal hanger and race bib holder that could be a great way to showcase your running accomplishments all in one spot. This thing can hold over 20 medals and 100 bibs, so no matter how many races you’ve done, there’s room to commemorate your achievements.

You can even put pictures behind some of the old bibs if you want to get really nostalgic and preserve those race day memories!

For runners who have a stack of hardware piling up, this display case lets you neatly organize it instead of just shoving medals in a box somewhere. It’s a great way to look back on and celebrate all the miles you’ve logged over the years.

5. Best Tabletop Running Medal Display: Gone For a Run | Premier Tabletop Running Race Medal Display ($59)

If you’re looking for a tabletop design to display your medals, then you need to check this one out!

This option is perfect if you’re not looking for a medal display to hang on your wall. Plus, it can hold a whopping 60 medals!

I like this option as a gift for runners during the holiday season or when you know they’ve started stacking up on your medals but haven’t been able to start displaying it just yet.

You don’t need to put a hole in the wall – you just have to insert the center pole into the top and base and twist it into the pre-attached lock nut. Yep, no tools required!

10 Creative Medal Display Ideas

If regular medal holders are just not your thing, then these fun and creative medal display ideas might do the trick!

These are some of the most creative ideas I’ve seen for both medals and bibs!

1. Race Coasters

Turn your medals or race bibs into coasters! I love this idea because it’s a fun conversation starter for something that you’d have setting out all the time without feeling like running has taken over your decor.

Here’s a place to get your bib done.
Here’s an easy option for race medal coasters.

2. Wind Chimes and Chandeliers

Ready for some super creative thinking, why not hang those medals to create a truly awe-inspiring feature.

TheRunCommuter.net shared this wind chime of medals from a fellow named Frank and the bib display is from a Nike store in Hong Kong…but are going to take some time, but the results speak for themselves. Of course a final option is simply to add your medal to the bottom of an existing chime!

3. Shine a Light On It

Decorate a lamp like I Run Long…I think most of mine would fall over, which is why now Gone For a Run has actually handled this problem for us and designed a tabletop lamp that will hold the weight of our medals. Check it out.

Seriously… this might look good in my office!

4. Christmas Designs with Medals and Bibs

This might be my favorite idea and one that I’m trying to figure out how to make happen. Because it’s probably going to require a second tree, so the first one can still hold all the traditional fun stuff.

In fact, that’s exactly what Run Janie Run did many years ago.

But I feel like Daniel really wins the prize on this one. I’m absolutely envious of this tree! Wondering if we can’t find a good runner tree topper too…like a shoe!

5. Glass Medal Display Ideas

While you could get one of the cool race medal boxes with your bib to highlight that super special race, but there are some other fun ideas! What about collecting them in a glass bowl, placing them under the glass of a coffee table or using a shadowbox to pull them all together.

Find the shadowbox here
Find the bib and medal here
Get a print out of your race course at RunInkDesign (see bottom image in post)

6. Wallpaper

If you have a lot of race bibs and not a lot of physical space to display them, then the other options might not work as well for you. An easy option to display medals and bibs is to cover the walls of a room or any other space in your home!

This is a fun and creative way to display them without taking up too much space.

7. Create Medal Fridge Magnets

And if you’re not in the mood to display them on your wall, then proudly show them off as fridge magnets instead!

All you need to do is attach a small magnet to the back of your race medal to turn it into an incredible fridge magnet! This looks so good and is one of my favorite options.

8. Furniture Displays

You can also just utilize your current furniture pieces to display your medals. Attach the race bibs and medals to TV stands, bookshelves, or even end tables.

It’s a great way to turn a functional piece of furniture into a medal display!

9. DIY Medal Display

If you love easy DIY options, then consider making yourself your very own medal display. You can use a curtain rod to hang them on the wall.

There are also tons of fun IKEA hacks for making it yourself. It’ll be one of a kind and you can design it according to the amount of space and medals you have.

10. Race Medal Hangers

Then of course there are always hangers with all kinds of different inspiring words, made from wood or metal.

In fact, these are what I have in my basement right now because my creativity extends to writing hundreds of articles and then starts to peter out.

I’ve already mentioned my top pick above, but here are some other great options you need to check out:

Unique – I like this honeycomb design, I feel like it could be part of a normal room decor
Bib Combo – The bibs and medals, plus a place to mark progress is a pretty awesome option
Runner Metal – This is simple and streamlined…yup it’s one I have.

How Else to Display Race Bibs?

I feel like race medal displays get all the glory, but for me I am far more attached to my bib. My bib had to cover the distance with me, it’s covered in my grit and sweat and the fear I lathered it in while pinning it on, ha!!

If you happen to fall in this to boat too, then there are some super cool ideas that go beyond those listed above.

Crafters get ready for this awesome idea from Half Crazy Mama. You can also have them turned into a tote bag or put them in a flipbook with a photo and some notes, so you might actually remember your race many years later.

Though do we just call that Instagram now?!

Nothing caught your eye just yet?

Perhaps you need something a little more showy, in which case I recommend you wear them like builtbybiel

Where to Donate Race Medals?

If you don’t want all your medals, don’t just toss them in the trash! After so many years of running, I often find myself with a slew of medals that I’m ready to pass along.

There are organizations that want your medals!! It’s a great way for them to support kids and a variety of different efforts:

Medals 4 Mettle – Medals used to encourage those going through cancer
We Finish Together – You actually write a note with your medal to give the next person a boost
Sports Medal Recycling – It won’t go to someone new, but the funds will help a charity registration

Are your medals out for all to see?

Are you more attached to your medals or bibs?

Since we talked about the best race medals Monday and half marathons worth traveling for, I thought I would do some digging for the creative ways that others are displaying them because I know I could use some tips!

Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram Daily Fun: RunToTheFinish

Facebook Community Chatter: RunToTheFinish

Love these full walls to display race medals, just a few final ideas to help get your wheels turning!